Show-case



(No Model I. GURLEY.

SHOW CASE.

ATTORNEYS.

WU-b wE H m: NOIIIS PE'rEhs c0 (momma, mammoth. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK GURLEY, OF HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA.

SHOW-GAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,455, dated October 13, 1896.

Application filed June 11, 1896. Serial No. 595,134. (No model.)

To rtZl whom it 772mm concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK GU RLEY, of High Point, in the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide show-cases having a simple means whereby dust or other objectionable matter may be readily swept out from the case.

The invention is applicable to various forms of show-cases, but is more especially designed for embodiment in that form of cases used on counters, and it is particularly desirable in connection with show-cases in which powdery substances or articles liable to crumble are retained, such as the cases of drug and grocery stores.

The invention consists in the novel features hereinafter particularly described, and defined in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View from its rear side of a show-case with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section of the case on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the block resting in and closing the recess. Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary portions of a case, showing slightly different applications of my invention to that shown in the preceding figures; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing a further modification of my invention as applied to a different form of show-case.

A is an ordinary show-case provided with sliding doors B at its rear, which fit in and are adapted to slide in grooves or guideways in the upper and lower strips 0 and D, respectively, of the case-frame. In the lower strip D is a recess or cut-away portion E, extending down to the bottom or floor F of the case, and G is a removable block of similar form and size to the recess E for fitting into and closing said recess and forming part of the strip D and guideway for the sliding door 13 when the recess E is not required to be used for cleaning out the case.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have shown the block G hinged to the upper surface of the strip D, and in such case the hinge h is countersunk in said strip, so as to be flush with the upper surface of said strip and to ofier no obstruction to the sliding of the door B. The bottom of the block G usually is provided with a layer of felt, cloth, or similar flexible material i to make a tight fit of said block in the recess E and to render the joint practically dust-proof.

In Fig. 4 the hinge k is shown fastened to the inner side of the block and to the end strip K of the door-frame, and in this construction the block G swings outward, instead of upward, as in the construction shown in the preceding figures. The free end g of the block G and the corresponding end Z of the recess E are beveled, so as to form a tight joint when said block is closed into said recess.

My invention is particularly applicable to show-cases for containing articles of food and powdery and crumbly articles, for after the door has been opened the block G may be lifted up or the block G swung out, opening the recess, and dust, dirt, 850., can be readily swept from the floor F through the recess E or E. By closing the recess with the block the case is restored to its normal condition and appearance. The recess and the block may both be formed by cutting the latter out of the strip D.

In Fig. 5 I have showna swing-hook m hung upon the door B and a pin n upon the hinged block G, (which is similar to Fig. 1.) The hook m acts to raise the block, for when the door 13 is pushed to the left the hook m will catch on the pin a, and the farther sliding of the door to the left will lift up the block, as shown in Fig. 5. \Vhen the door B is pushed to the right, the hook m will release itself from the pin a and the door will push the block G down and ride over it.

In Fig. 6 the door 13 is hinged at its lower edge to the strip D, as usual, and the block G is formed integral with or secured to and forms part of the door B, so that the block is removed from the recess upon opening the door.

It will be understood that a packing material may be applied to the blocks G G Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 7 AshoW-case having a door-frame at one side,

10 a door in the frame, a floor in the case, the

bottom strip of the frame having a recess extending down to the floor and out transversely through the strip to the level of the floor, and a block fitting the said recess beneath the door, substantially as described.

FRANK GURLEY.

\Vitnesses R. A. SLAUGHTER, S. H. ToMLINsoN. 

